Gilbert S.

Vasquez
2020 – 0002
NREL Sec. 65, Sat 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Reaction Paper on Climate Change

The discussion in the report sprung me back to 1991 when I was still in first year high school. The
then Municipality of Marikina organized a whole-day science fare wherein students from different high
schools converged to know more about climate change and what can we do to mitigate its ill effects and
stop it from getting worse. Back then, there is already a recognition that aside from our dependency to
fossil fuels, another big factor to the worsening of climate change is the depletion of forest cover to pave
the way for industries and urbanization in general. More than three decades after my initial encounter
with climate change, I think things are lot worse today. The open and green spaces before are now
transformed to urban centers. More road infrastructures and networks are built today which may mean
that there are more motor vehicles now. I also feel that the temperature is hotter today than thirty (30)
years ago. In our community alone, a lot of houses in our neighborhood have air conditioner which I think
makes the community hotter because of the heat being emitted in each household.
The facts are very concerning. Many of our activities causes climate change, including power
generation, land use change, and cutting down trees. We are guilty to some of these human activities,
such as our over reliance to electronic gadgets in our daily lives. Up to this time, 77% of our power sector
is reliant on fossil fuels. I am also part of this whenever I use my car going to the office which contributed
to 1/5 of globalCO2 emission. I was surprised to learn that Justice Agcaoili in his book stated that the
Philippines’ climate change laws are “world’s best.” To further quote his book, the Philippines has an
excellent legal framework for disaster risk reduction and an excellent legal framework for climate
adaptation. RA 9729 or the Climate Change Act, like other environmental laws, affirms the policy of the
State to afford full protection and the advancement of the right of the people to a healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. What could have happened? Despite having sufficient
laws on the environment, particularly, relating to climate change, we still must realize bold governmental
actions to mitigate and arrest its negative effects.
I think from a legal perspective, we have every measures in place to address the worsening issue
of climate change. I agree with the report that our government must compensate the ideal principles and
framework embodied in our laws with political will and government actions. Aside from this, the debate,
discussions, and actin planning on how to address climate change must be brought down to the household
level. One specific aspect of the law which I think may need a review is the creation of the Climate Change
Commission and a Climate Change Office to support it. I think, although the created the Commission
under the Office of the President with its own annual budget appropriation, I strongly feel that from an
institutional point of view, it is surrounded by tentativeness. The Commission has advisory board
composed of the different representatives from several government offices. In my view, in consideration
of the negative impact of climate change, 1.33 billion losses due to droughts with 16,000 farmers affect,
a permanent cabinet government office must replace the Commission. In another aspect, I agree to the
mainstreaming of climate change in various phases of policy formulation and development plan.